Transportation system

ABSTRACT

A wheeled vehicle, riding on a guide track which extends alongside an upwardly open channel, is entrained by a stream of water in that channel with the aid of one or more blades dipping into the water. The thrust of the water flow upon the vehicle may be modified by swinging the blade or blades about vertical or horizontal axes to slow or halt its movement at a station; the swing of the blades may be controlled by external devices, such as fixed or motor-driven ramps, engaging the blade directly or coacting with an operating element linked with the blade shaft.

United States Patent [191 Rodot Nov. 19, 1974 TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM [76] Inventor: Frederic Rodot, 6A, avenue de Primary 'f Henson Wood eouche 21 Dijon France ASSlSlLlI'lZ Examiner-D. W. Keen Attorney, Agent, or FirmKarl F. Ross; Herbert [22] Filed: Dec. 30, 1971 Dubno 21 A l N 214072 1 pp 0 57 ABSTRACT A wheeled vehicle, riding on a guide track which exg 104/ 3 2: 3 3 tends alongside an upwardly open channel, is en- [58] d 154 155 trained by a stream of water in that channel with the 0 mm 56 1 i 5 aid of one or more blades dipping into the water. The thrust of the water flow upon the vehicle may be mod- 5 References Cited ilfied by swinging the blade or blades about vertical or orizontal axes to slow or halt its movement at a sta- UNITED STATES PATENTS tion; the swing of the blades may be controlled by ex- 326,l98 9/1885 Bridewell... 104/154 ternal devices, such as fixed or motor-driven ramps, .450 6/1887 Tasker engaging the blade directly or coacting with an operatg ing element linked with the blade shaft. 110W en... 3.404.635 l0/l968 Bacon l04/73 14 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures aux/191974 PATENTEL v SHEET-10F a Frederic ROBOT Inventor,

Attor y PATENTELKUVIQIBM 3 .53?

' SHEEF 2 OF 3 Frederic RODOT Inventor -17 p "T C Attorney TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION My present invention relates to a transportation system for both people and goods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The main systems of transport used on the surface of the earth may be summarized and distinguished in the following manner:

21. vehicles comprising at least one engine unit (trains, motor cars, boats with oars or motors, aircraft) in which the movement of the vehicle is the result of the action of the propelling agent on the environment; and

b. devices which do not have a motor but have a surface for reaction with or for the application of an external force.

Amongst devices of this latter kind are mainly sailing vessels, and the same propulsion principle has been extended to sporting devices, either traveling on the sand or beaches or sliding on snow or ice.

Also worth' mentioning are pneumatic transmissions, in closed tubes, of containers propelled by compressed air; experimental propulsion of trains of vessels by current of water in a channel caused by a gradient; and use of vehicles which contain a piston subjected to the action of a pressurized fluid in a tube.

This invention relates to a transport installation in which the vehicles act .as carriers for a reaction ele-.

ment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The transportation system according to the invention comprises a channel through which flows a liquid at high speed and in continuous movement, and at least one vehicle rolling on at least one roller track, ensuring the support of this vehicle, which is provided with an element extending into the channel and subjected to the thrust of the liquid flowing therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent-from the following description, given with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a representative embodiment of my invention and in which:

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of an installation according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational cross-section taken on the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial longitudinal cross-section taken on the line lIIlll of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial longitudinal cross-section of a channel at the entry to a station, and of the lower part of a vehicle;

FIG. 5 is an elevational cross-section of an underground channel with a single track;

FIG. 6 is an elevational cross-section taken on the line Vl-Vl of FIG. 1, showing a double underground station; and

FIG. 7 shows a detail.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT As shown in the drawing, a system according to my invention comprises a channel C, which may form a closed circuit (according to the arrangement of FIG. 1

the circuit has an outbound track Cl and a return track C2 which may be either joined or separate) traversed by a liquid FL, in this case water, in continuous highspeed movement, and vehicles V rolling on guide tracks 1 by means of wheels 2 straddling the channel C, each vehicle having at least one blade 3 dipping into the liquid flowing in the channel.

At a level slightly below that reached by the ends of the blades 3 are nozzles or tubes 4 distributed along the length of the channel and ejecting water under pressure, these nozzles either extending transversely of the channel C over the whole width thereof, as in FIG. 2, or leading in longitudinally, as in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The ejector tubes 4 are connected by conduits 6 to hydraulic pressure generators, for example pumps 21 which recycle the liquid. The tubes 4 are provided with discharge slots 4a (FIG. 3) facing downstream in the direction of movement.

Generally similar intake tubes 5 draw in water from upstream and are connected by conduits 7 to the suction sides of pumps 21. The tubes 5 have wall slots 5a (FIG. 3) facing upstream relative to the direction of movement. It is easy to understand that, if water under pressure is injected into the channel C by means of the discharge tubes 4, the water'in the channel will acquire a certain velocity which will be governed mainly by the delivery pressure but will be increased by the suction produced by the intake tubes 5.

The vehicle, the stability of which is ensured by the wheels 2 on the tracks 1, will move the more quickly the less resistance the driving flow of fluid meets during its movement (this is the purpose of the fluid being drawn in at 5).

In principle, the movement of the vehicle will be continuous and the passengers enter and leave preferably at station S where its speed is reduced. This result may be achieved by providing the channel C at anysuch station S with a substantially greater cross-section than between the stations, by either deepening it (as in FIG. 3) or widening it (as in FIG. 6), the widened channel extending under platforms 8.

' Obviously, a similar result in slowing the vehicle may be obtained by providing the vehicles with brakes which can be effective up to total stopping. In order to achieve this it is possible to make the blades 3 movable, so that the action of their surface reacting with the driving fluid may be modified, either by inclining them vertically about a horizontal axis as illustrated for blades 3a, 3b in (FIG. 5) or by mounting them pivotably about a vertical axis (FIG. 6).

In this way, the blade can face the propelling liquid either broadside (left half of FIG. 6), a position corresponding to maximum efficiency and, therefore, the maximum speed, or edge-on, i.e. a position of almost zero entrainment (right half of FIG. 6).

The rotation of the blade may be automatically controlled at the entry and at the exit of a station S, if the Preferably, the upper part of this shaft, above its bearing, is provided with a square section 9' cooperating with spring blades 11 in order to insure a rotation through 90 for every action of a finger on one arm of the turnstile.

It is also possible to cause the automatic pivoting of the horizontally swingable blades, shown in FIG. 6, by connecting their vertical shaft or any other part integral with the blades 3, by levers (not shown), with movable shoes 12 which can be applied under the action of a spring 13 against retractable ramps 14 whose movement is controlled by motors 15 through a transmission 16 which may include shafts and pinions, or an endless screw, as shown at right in FIG. 6. It is also possible to realize by simple means a double braking action by feathering the pivoted blade and applying the shoes 12 under friction against the retracted ramps 14, as shown at left in FIG. 6.

Nevertheless I believe that the solution which is both the simplest and the most efficient consists in inclining the blades 3b3a (FIG. 5) about the horizontal pivots 9a9b which are mounted respectively under the forward end and under the rear end of the vehicle. This arrangement enables not only a slowing down prior to braking for complete stopping, but also the crossing of short passages without channels, as in the case of intersections or forks, or structures positioned transversely of the longitudinal axis of the channel C, in which case the lifting of the blades may be continued until they are entirely outside the water.

This lifting of the blades 3a and 3b is achieved as shown in FIG. 5 by the action of a ramp Cr submerged in the channel C and rising at least up to the maximum level of the water in engagement with the free edges of the blades 3a and 3b.

For reasons further explained below I prefer to interconnect the two blades for joint lifting.

For this purpose the shafts 9a and 9b are provided with keyed pinions 36 which are interconnected by a chain 37. In this manner, the lifting of the forward blade 3b by the ramp Cr causes also the lifting of the blade 3a and, therefore, diminishes the speed by reducing the effective blade area.

Obviously, it is sufficient for the ramp Cr to extend to an upper horizontal plane (across a station, intersection or the like) so that the blades resting by their ends on this extension keep a substantially horizontal position. However, it appears desirable to lock the blades in the inoperative position by at least one detent 32 which operates when the blade or blades have reached the ineffective raised position, and which releases when this position is to be changed.

This detent may be, for example, an electromagnetic plunger 33 which may be operated from the inside of the vehicle if the blades are to be lowered (e.g. by means of a switch 34 located in circuit with a battery 35 feeding this electromagnet).

On one of these shafts 9a, 9b (FIG. 7) is keyed the hub of a freewhecl 38 forming a unidirectional coupling. enables the free positioning of the blade, the crown of this frecwheel being integral with a ratchet 39 cooperating with an escapement pawl 40 fulcrumed at a point 41; hooks 40a and 40b of this pawl allow only a fractional rotation of the shaft 9a in the direction of descent of the blade (from one tooth to the next). In this manner, the thrust of the blades increases progressively and starting is correspondingly smooth.

The leading blade 3b has a smaller surface than the trailing blade 3a. Thus, the blade 3b may have a surface of half the cross-section of the channel, whereas that of the blade 30 may amount to three-quarters of this cross-section.

This arrangement has two objectives: on the one hand, to prevent the sudden obstruction of the mass of water flowing at high speed (8 m/s) which would risk the occurence of overflows upstream, and on the other hand to prevent any mechanical overstressing of the blades.

The channel C may be in the open air or may be underground, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

If it is in the open air, its simple structure (one track) or dual structure (two connected tracks) comprises, as shown in FIG. 2, an apron Cb of concrete and partitions Ce, Cm and Cn, the actual channel being defined by walls Cm and Cn.

If, on the other hand, the channel is underground, its structure is completed by parts supporting the roofs the platforms and the means for reaching and leaving the platforms (e.g. fixed staircases 17 and/or moving stairs 18).

These structures may be made from concrete cast on site, as shown in FIG. 6 (double track). or may be formed from concrete pipes placed according to the advance of tunelling work.

In the case of a single underground track (FIG. 5) an economical solution is the use of a sheath 42 of cast pipe laid during drilling. These pipes have inside two roller tracks 1a of curved cross-section adapted to receive wheels 2 with pneumatic tires. This arrangement eliminates the necessity for providing guide wheels 2a as shown in the embodiment in FIG. 6. The channel C is located between these two roller tracks.

Various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a system in which the swing of one or more pivoted blades 3 or 30, 3b between an effective position and an ineffective position is controllable by the coaction of either the blades themselves or an operating element linked therewith, such as the shoes 12, with fixed or movable external abutment means such as ramps Cr (FIG. 4) or 12 (FIG. 6).

What is claimed is:

1. A transportation system comprising:

an upwardly open channel;

a pair of parallel guide tracks flanking said channel;

a vehicle provided with wheels rolling on said guide tracks, said vehicle being provided with blade means depending into said channel, said blade means including at least one blade mounted pivotally on said vehicle;

control means for swinging said blade between an effective position and a substantially ineffective position; said control means including abutment means adjacent said guide tracks operatively engageable with said blade upon displacement of said vehicle past a predetermined location; and

fluid-circulation means for maintaining a continuous liquid flow in said channel, said blade means dipping into the liquid for entraining the vehicle in the direction of flow.

2. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide tracks pass at least one station for loading and unloading said vehicle, the cross-section of said channel being enlarged in the region of said station for slowing down the motion of the vehicle.

3. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said fluidcirculation means comprises downstream-facing fluiddischarge means and upstream-facing fluid-intake means in said channel.

4. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said blade in said effective position occupies at least half the cross-sectional area of said channel.

5. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said abutment means comprises a ramp within said channel, said blade being swingable about a horizontal axis into a position above the liquid level upon a free edge thereof contacting said ramp.

6. A system as defined in claim 5 wherein said blade means comprises a further blade in tandem with said one blade and linked therewith for joint swinging about respective horizontal axes.

7. A system as defined in claim 6 wherein said on blade is disposed downstream of said further blade and is of smaller effective area than said further blade.

8. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means further comprises an operating element on said vehicle coupled to said blade and engageable by said abutment means at said location.

9. A system as defined in claim 8 wherein said abutment means is displaceable and provided with drive means for moving same into contact with said operating element upon displacement of said vehicle past said location.

10. A transportation system comprising:

an upwardly open channel;

a guide track extending alongside said channel;

a vehicle in engagement with said guide track for displacement along said channel, said vehicle being provided with pivotally mounted blade means swingable between an effective position and anineffective position;

fluid-circulation means for maintaining a continuous liquid flow in said channel, said blade means dip ping into the liquid for entrainment of the vehicle in the direction of flow in said effective position thereof; and

actuating means mounted on said guide track and provided with drive means for moving same into operative engagement with said blade means to swing same into said ineffective position upon displacement of said vehicle past a predetermined location.

11. A system as defined in claim 10 wherein said blade means is provided with detent means for releasably retaining same in said ineffective position.

12. A transportation system comprising:

an upwardly open channel;

a guide track extending along said channel;

a vehicle in engagement with said guide track for displacement along said channel, said vehicle being provided with a downstream blade and an upstream blade interlinked for joint pivoting between a depending effective position and an elevated ineffective position, said downstream blade having an effective area substantially smaller than that of said upstream blade;

fluid-circulation means for maintaining a continuous liquid flow in said channel, said blades dipping into the liquid in their effective position for entraining the vehicle in the direction of flow; and

control means for swinging said blades between said effective and ineffective positions thereof.

13. A system as defined in claim 12 wherein said downstream blade occupies substantially half the crosssectional area of said channel in said effective position thereof.

14. A system as defined in claim 12 wherein said control means comprises a fixed abutment in said channel engageable with said bladesfor elevating same into said ineffective position, further comprising escapement means coupled with said blades for slowing their descent from said ineffective position to said effective position upon disengagement thereof from said abutment 

1. A transportation system comprising: an upwardly open channel; a pair of parallel guide tracks flanking said channel; a vehicle provided with wheels rolling on said guide tracks, said vehicle being provided with blade means depending into said channel, said blade means including at least one blade mounted pivotally on said vehicle; control means for swinging said blade between an effective position and a substantially ineffective position; said control means including abutment means adjacent said guide tracks operatively engageable with said blade upon displacement of said vehicle past a predetermined location; and fluid-circulation means for maintaining a continuous liquid flow in said channel, said blade means dipping into the liquid for entraining the vehicle in the direction of flow.
 2. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide tracks pass at least one station for loading and unloading said vehicle, the cross-section of said channel being enlarged in the region of said station for slowing down the motion of the vehicle.
 3. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said fluid-circulation means comprises downstream-facing fluid-discharge means and upstream-facing fluid-intake means in said channel.
 4. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said blade in said effective position occupies at least half the cross-sectional area of said channel.
 5. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said abutment means comprises a ramp within said channel, said blade being swingable about a horizontal axis into a position above the liquid level upon a free edge thereof contacting said ramp.
 6. A system as defined in claim 5 wherein said blade means comprises a further blade in tandem with said one blade and linked therewith for joint swinging about respective horizontal axes.
 7. A system as defined in claim 6 wherein said one blade is disposed downstream of said further blade and is of smaller effective area than said further blade.
 8. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means further comprises an operating element on said vehicle coupled to said blade and engageable by said abutment means at said location.
 9. A system as defined in claim 8 wherein said abutment means is displaceable and provided with drive means for moving same into contact with said operating element upon displacement of said vehicle past said location.
 10. A transportation system comprising: an upwardly open channel; a guide track extending alongside said channel; a vehicle in engagement with said guide track for displacement along said channel, said vehicle being provided with pivotally mounted blade means swingable between an effective position and an ineffective position; fluid-circulation means for maintaiNing a continuous liquid flow in said channel, said blade means dipping into the liquid for entrainment of the vehicle in the direction of flow in said effective position thereof; and actuating means mounted on said guide track and provided with drive means for moving same into operative engagement with said blade means to swing same into said ineffective position upon displacement of said vehicle past a predetermined location.
 11. A system as defined in claim 10 wherein said blade means is provided with detent means for releasably retaining same in said ineffective position.
 12. A transportation system comprising: an upwardly open channel; a guide track extending along said channel; a vehicle in engagement with said guide track for displacement along said channel, said vehicle being provided with a downstream blade and an upstream blade interlinked for joint pivoting between a depending effective position and an elevated ineffective position, said downstream blade having an effective area substantially smaller than that of said upstream blade; fluid-circulation means for maintaining a continuous liquid flow in said channel, said blades dipping into the liquid in their effective position for entraining the vehicle in the direction of flow; and control means for swinging said blades between said effective and ineffective positions thereof.
 13. A system as defined in claim 12 wherein said downstream blade occupies substantially half the cross-sectional area of said channel in said effective position thereof.
 14. A system as defined in claim 12 wherein said control means comprises a fixed abutment in said channel engageable with said blades for elevating same into said ineffective position, further comprising escapement means coupled with said blades for slowing their descent from said ineffective position to said effective position upon disengagement thereof from said abutment means. 